Konica UC Hexanon 4/80-200 on NEX-3

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

A really top zoom lens, very sharp, no CA even wide open, this defecates on all other zooms of this range I've tried from a great height.
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Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Konica top zoom lens I didn't expect less ... great work!

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Late afternoon and light was fading so I decided to wait to finish the series another day in good light, but it certainly seems to be a very good lens for sure.

Tedat · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 800 Location: Berlin/Germany

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Great lens! No purple fringing, but looks to suffer from green ca like the Vario-Sonnar 80-200/4. How does it handle on Nex?

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

It's very big and heavy so handling is a bit awkward on the NEX, but the bulk aids in holding it steady.

I noticed very slight green CA, wasn't sure if it was really CA or not, certainly far less annoying than purple fringes.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

That's a very good zoom. And it's a useful length when you don't want a bagfull of gear.

Tedat · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 800 Location: Berlin/Germany

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

Indeed, nice looking images.

The lens looks just like one of the Vivitar zooms we sold in the early/mid 1970s . . .

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I've just got a Mamiya-Sekor 3.8/80-200 which is also supposed to be outstanding, be interesting to compare them, the Mmiya is just as big and heavy and is also a two-touch (which I prefer in zooms).

Bad fog and ice here today, will take the Konica UC and Mamiya zooms out as soon as the weather allows, need to try some distance shots.

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Glad to see others like this zoom, it's my favorite, too, in the range. Hate those
push-pull zooms, and their lousy handling. Ian, pick up a cheap Konica AR film
body sometime and give it a try.

these are with a Konica T4/UC Hex zoom and expired KG100 and 200:

scans on Epson 4490

I like the Konica T4 for its big bright VF, but don't expect the meter to work, one of
the worst for longevity.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Nice shots. I already have three working Konica bodies, all mint - Autoreflex T, TC-X and FT-1. The meter is the TC-X is a little off I think, the FT-1 works great. I'm actually halfway through a roll of Konica VX400 in my FT-1 shot with the UC zoom, the batteries ran out on me so I will have to finish it another day. I'm trying all my Konica lenses on film one by one.

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Love to see your results when you can. I should probably look for a better Konica body,
but the T4's have mechanical shutters and I use a handheld meter (both meters are kaput
in mine).

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I like the FT-1, very nice camera, I like using it with my ultrawides. Attila tells me the FC-1 and FS-1 are the best two. Sadly Konica bodies are known for having back meters and electronics. I gave Attila a mint unused FT-1 because it was dead, nice collection item though.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

We had some sunshine today so I tried it on a distant subject at f8. 80, 150 and 200mm settings for last three, 200mm for mountain shot.

Pretty good I'd say.

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aspen · Expire: 2014-02-20

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1247 Location: United Kingdom

aspen · Expire: 2014-02-20

Thanks much Very Happy

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Ian, really like this one, nice 'scape for the layers of light:

The UC coating was supposed to rival Zeiss' T* coating, whether it does, is arguable. Konica
did spend some money on the UC stable of lenses. I like that this zoom has a pull-out hood,
very handy. Gonna pollute your thread with a few more film pix:

Memories 200 (rebadged Konica Centuria)

the cat pic is KG200 (very expired) of my dearly departed Maine Coon that died Nov 30. The
BW is AP 400 pushed to 800 using HC-110E, 10 mins, 20C

looking forward to your film pix!

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Nice film pics, thanks for sharing.

The only issue I have with this UC lens is the size and weight, it's just too wobbly mounted on the front of my NEX, I need to find a tripod ring for it. Other than that, I really like it, clearly in the upper strata of zoom lenses.

Nubrig · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 14

What is the difference between this and Konica 80-200/3.5? I have found both on eBay and that got me wondering, does anyone have any experience on that?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Nubrig · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 14

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

F4 is a little boy vs f3.5 I have both.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

The UC 4/80-200 is very big and heavy, bigger and heavier than the Mamiya 3.5/80-200, Vivitar Series 1 3.5/70-210 and just about any other big zoom I've owned apart from the real monster ones like a Tokina-made Hoya 75-260 and a 1960's Yashinon zoom I forget the exact stats of now.

I'm guessing the 3.5/80-200 is a real beast, Konica zooms are in general, pretty big and heavy, it's because the engineering is superb and they use a lot of glass elements. I have the UC 45-100 and that is a stunning lens, very heavy and large for it's range and has exceptionally nice engineering and build quality. I also have the 28-135 which has 19 elements and it's very heavy and large for what it is.

But the image quality of them is excellent, by far the best zooms I've ever owned, probably the only step up from these Konica zooms is to T* Vario-Sonnars or some of the more exotic Leica zooms.